Page 55 of The Player

What if this is for him? No. Of course, it’s not. He’s not a slut. Well, at least, I don’t think he is. As Tuxedo wraps himself around my legs, I realize I’m spiraling out of control.

Picking up my phone, I’m shaking so hard, I can’t dial the numbers. Sitting down on the couch, I sniffle and look at my cat, who’s looking back at me. Taking a deep breath, I count to twenty.

“You really should have called the police.” I look up and see one of my physical therapists standing in my living room. Josh is bloody, but it can’t be from the glass.

“What are you doing here?”

He cackles manically, and I get up from the couch. “To warn you about your boyfriend. He’s insane.”

“And you aren’t?”

I like the idea of Aaron being my boyfriend, but I have a feeling we are so much more than that. Hitting the phone button behind my back, I slip the phone into my pocket.

“You don’t get to go out with him and flaunt him in front of me, Julie. It’s just not nice.”

“What are you talking about? I’ve never agreed to go out with you, and I certainly would never date an employee.”

He lunges for me and I yelp, jumping out of the way. “You led me on to believe you wanted me. All those times we would go to lunch and whatnot.”

“I invited everyone.” I can hear the panic in my voice as I reach for the door and turn the knob.

CHAPTER THIRTY

Lennox is fucking awesome. The kid knows all my stats and watches every move I make. We are talking about how the football team here needs help and that he thinks I’m going to be a great coach. God, the way he makes me feel is almost as addicting as my need for Julie.

With dinner down, the ice cream shop bought out, and our stomachs way too full, we head down to the bookstore.

“Lennox, you know your stuff about sports. Are you going out for any of the junior teams this year?”

“I don’t know. Mom is so busy; I don’t want to add to her stress.” He licks his last spoonful of ice cream, and it reminds me so much of myself. He doesn’t want to make his mom’s life harder. In the same way, I didn’t want to after mom lost it when Bryson left for the military.

“Don’t worry too much, Len. You are your mother’s world. It’s going to be alright.”

My phone rings, and I pick it up, “Hello?”

“You don’t get to go out with him and flaunt him in front of me, Julie. It’s just not nice.”

I know that voice. Fuck. The goddamn therapist that I beat the shit out of decided to visit Julie. Has he been stalking my girl? That’s my job. One I obviously need to take back up if I’m going to keep her safe.

“Lennox, we need to head toward the house.”

He sizes me up and must see the anger on my face to realize that now isn’t the time to be fucking around. “You got it.”

That’s all he says before he links our fingers together and moves with me.

“Don’t.” Julie’s voice is strained as she pleads with him. The bastard better not touch her.

“Oh, I’m going to be doing a lot more to you. You chose the wrong guy, you stupid cunt.”

My anger soars to new heights, and my vision goes black for a second. “Dad, you alright?”

Every time I hear him call me Dad, my heart scatters and rearranges itself. I want to relish the feeling of him being happy and me finally getting to be with him. But the words coming from my phone are going to drive me to do something I haven’t done in a long time. Kill.

I will kill that son of a bitch the second I see him. As I get to the shop that Kaylee told me to meet her at, I look around. She’s not due for another twenty minutes, but she’s already here. Thank God. I don’t think I could handle waiting on her.

“Is…” Kaylee blanches when she sees my face, and Bryson comes around the corner.

“No. Nothing is alright. Take Lennox back to your place. I’m going to get an Uber.”

---